The Real deals: Madrid break its own transfer record

Bale is the world's most expensive player

The longest running saga of this summer's transfer window has finally reached a conclusion.

Real Madrid have shelled out a world record 84.62 million pounds (100 million euros) to buy Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur.

The nine-times European champions had made their intentions clear for a very long time, but the North London club held back the deal in a bid to ensure adequate replacements for the Wales winger.

With Tottenham acquiring Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and Vlad Chiriches on the same day (August 31), the Welshman's move got the requisite clearance.

A day later, Bale signed a six-year deal.

With the record transfer, the 24-year-old becomes the latest 'galactico' signing by the world's richest club and marks the latest instance when the Madrid club broke its own transfer record, one that happened to be a world record as well.

Image: Gareth Bale waves to fans in his new Real Madrid shirt during his official unveiling at estadio Santiago BernabeuPhotographs: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Ronaldo is one of Real's best acquisitions ever

For starters, Bale succeeds new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's most expensive player.

As was the hype during the Welshman's protracted transfer this summer, back in June 2009 the player in question was the Portuguese.

Real broke its own record for the highest transfer fee ever paid (till then) by agreeing to pay Premier League champions Manchester United 80 million pounds (96 million euros) for securing Ronaldo's signature.

As it turned out, the Portuguese became one of the best acquisitions ever at the Santiago Bernebeu, having thus far netted more than 200 goals for the club.

Kaka was an expensive flop

The Madrid club dished out 56 million pounds (65 million euros) to acquire Kaka from AC Milan.

However, the high-profile move boomeranged, as the Brazilian failing to establish himself at the Bernebeu.

Now, pegged back further in the pecking order following the arrival of Bale, Kaka has secured a return to San Siro, signing a two-year deal that will see him earn him significantly less - about four million euros per season.